Will likely be driving around or through Chicago this weekend. Heard that there are protests planned and freeway shutdowns. Coming from Indianapolis area. Any thoughts on route? Go to Bloomington and then north to MN?

Will be driving at night, leaving Indianapolis area around 10 PM.

Most likely anything is going to be concentrated in the downtown area. If you stick to the tollway which goes around the outside of the City I doubt you'll encounter anything. Road construction is more likely....

Chicago at night is usually pretty good. That said, I have been taking I-74 over to I-39 and then north to I-94. Its a tiny bit longer and about the same time if the Chicago run is smooth. If Chicago is a mess(ya never know) the rural route is much faster. I've never had a slow-down on I-74, even if there is construction. I take US 53 from Eau Claire to Duluth.

You will be completely fine at that hour unless there is planned construction that is shutting down the freeway. And that you can look up online, I believe.

You will probably be fine going through Chicago at that hour, but I MUCH prefer taking I74 to Bloomington and up I39 to Rockford. Set it and forget it easy.

I make the trip a couple times a year from Cincinnati (and am from Indy originally). Chicago can be faster if conditions are good, but I've been caught way too many times. 74/39 is much more relaxing. Nice way to start and end a vacation.

+1 on the 74/39 route. No tolls, no traffic, no stress. Much more pleasant drive.

Last two times, I went through Chicago, and regretted it both times. One fender bender, and the little time you might gain turns into 30 minutes or more lost. Ditch the stress, go 74 to 39. Trust me, you won't mind losing 10 minutes.

Even a year ago I'd say 74 to 39 but with 90 newly rebuilt and 294 in good shape, I'd go 65-80-294-90.

Should be no issues at that hour. No construction that I know of on either 294 or 94. If you do take the 39 to 90 route 90 is under construction from the Illinois state line all the way to Madison. That can be slow during the day.

If for some reason you consider taking 355 don't. It is all jacked up.

the protest that plans to shut down the Dan Ryan expressway is scheduled for 10am saturday morning in the North Bound lanes. You should be fine at night.

Not sure where they are working in Wisconsin, but they have had more night closures the last couple years anyways. Usually just a lane or so and less traffic. So usually not a big deal. I got bumped off one time, but was needing a restart for hours anyways so pulled off for that.
But yeah, 294, 90 is pretty fast now. Good ol' E-ZPass.

Podunk: "+1 on the 74/39 route. No tolls, no traffic, no stress. Much more pleasant drive. "

One toll at the ILL/WIS border (I-90/I-39). It’s $.90 if you have an IPASS or equivalent. It’s. $1.90 in cash.

They are working on same between border and Madison. If your GPS App shows big backups in that area, try Wis Hwy 26 out of Janesville to Jefferson and then take 89 to Lake Mills. Then take I -94 back to Madison. Hwy 26 is brand new 4 lane. Usually very little traffic.

Have a great trip!

I drive this about once or twice a year going/coming from the east coast. I time my departure either from Mpl or South Bend area so that I hit Chicago downtown (Jane Byrne exchange area) about midday if possible. I rarely have more than a bit of slowdown in either direction. Traffic generally moves and I make my way through the city in about 30 to 45 min. YMMV.

I go 74 to 39 every time now, so much easier and stress free. I'll never go through Chi-Town again while traveling to Quetico. Love the city, just don't want to drive through it again unless I have to......

QueticoMike: "I go 74 to 39 every time now, so much easier and stress free. I'll never go through Chi-Town again while traveling to Quetico. Love the city, just don't want to drive through it again unless I have to......"

+1

I went through Chicago both ways this June, both times "google" said it would be quicker by about 10 minutes. There is no construction, and yet, both times I got slowed/stopped by a fender bender, and lost 30 minute to an hour. Once more, I implore you to take 74 to 39...and ditch the stress of that traffic. Even if you save 10 minutes! Both times, I thought I was going through at a "low traffic" time, and gave it another shot. Don't be fooled! lol

State line to Madison on 39/90 has had a ton of accidents and the whole stretch is posted at 55mph

thanks for the info. I am not an owner of the vehicles going and can only give my input. Looks like we will be going the 39/90 route. Will try to post back and let you know how things went.

And as a meager celebration of the 4th, I am glad we had the freedom to post the comments above!

I may give the 74/39 route a try. I have to go that route in late August again. It would be nice to dodge the traffic and congestion. Plus, It's not a route that I've taken so it will be a new adventure.

If you take 74 to 39 we won't have to hear any more of this "stuff" that people are posting about concerning highways ;) Safe travels!

Back on topic here...How about just punching in your route on Google maps? It’s up to date to the min in my car and will reroute you when or if needed to fastest way.

Still think up to 65 to 80 to 294 to 290 to 90 is best route and a solid half hour less than 74-39. But I agree don't take 90 through the city - too many chances of delays.

I've been doing 90 to Madison a lot over the past two years and have been impressed that rarely is the speed limit even reduced - just some shifting back and forth.

We took the I-74 to I-39 route out of Indy last year. It's only about 20 minutes longer on google maps but the risk of traffic issue is so much lower.

If you are looking to save the 20 minutes, leaving Indianapolis at 10 pm is about the best you can do to minimize your risk of any traffic issues though Chicago. Should put you going though Chicago about midnight central time.

We take 4-5 trips a year to Chicago so for us its just nice to take a different route.

Michwall2: "

Podunk: "+1 on the 74/39 route. No tolls, no traffic, no stress. Much more pleasant drive. "

One toll at the ILL/WIS border (I-90/I-39). It’s $.90 if you have an IPASS or equivalent. It’s. $1.90 in cash.

They are working on same between border and Madison. If your GPS App shows big backups in that area, try Wis Hwy 26 out of Janesville to Jefferson and then take 89 to Lake Mills. Then take I -94 back to Madison. Hwy 26 is brand new 4 lane. Usually very little traffic.

Have a great trip!
"

I was just on I-90/I-39 north of Beloit this weekend. There is a lot of construction in that area. They are keeping 2 lanes open in each direction. Traffic was flowing well at +/- 60 mph (55 is posted speed limit). I would still watch the GPS app for slowdowns and use Wis 26 option if delayed for more than about 20 min.

I live west side of Indy and always take 74. Very little traffic until Rockford, 1 toll, and decent roads.

billconner: "Still think up to 65 to 80 to 294 to 290 to 90 is best route and a solid half hour less than 74-39. But I agree don't take 90 through the city - too many chances of delays.


I've been doing 90 to Madison a lot over the past two years and have been impressed that rarely is the speed limit even reduced - just some shifting back and forth. "

Good advice. The trick is to make it around that area in a decent amount of time without tolls when possible.

billconner: "Still think up to 65 to 80 to 294 to 290 to 90 is best route and a solid half hour less than 74-39. But I agree don't take 90 through the city - too many chances of delays.


I've been doing 90 to Madison a lot over the past two years and have been impressed that rarely is the speed limit even reduced - just some shifting back and forth. "

Several years ago I took that route exactly (65/80/294/290/90) and was stuck in bumper to bumper traffic for almost 3 hrs of delay. I had thought that by skirting Chicago's heavily congested area traffic would be flowing smoothly. May have been road construction further up --or an accident--but I reasoned that I'd rather drive the extra 30 minutes via 74/39 in the future. Haven't regretted the decision. Far fewer tolls on the I-Pass, too. BTW, that little electronic gizmo is terrific for breezing past the toll stations.

After having to drive through Chicago for 25 years to visit my family in Canada I've learned one thing: always go around Chicago! Even if if it costs you an extra 30min, always avoid it if you can. Actually the last few years I've started taking the Michigan U.P. route to get to Toronto from Minneapolis. Extra 45 minutes to the trip, but worth every one of them to just be able to relax and enjoy the lake views.

I always go through Chicago...for the White Castle

I live in SE Illinois and always take 74-39. Too much backed up traffic in the Chicago area, plus the tolls.

I think, after filtering through some off topic responses, that i have found a pattern. Those people who live in or near Chicago, don't think the traffic is bad, and don't think taking a longer route is necessary. The rest of us don't want to experience it again. I get stressed driving on 90 when traffic is flowing along nicely. Too many people!

According to the Sun Times Mayor Emanuel is okay with letting the protesters on to the Dan Ryan. There's a little problem with that because the interstate highways are not under CPD jurisdiction. Those belong to the Illinois State Police. ISP has said they will not allow the protesters to march on the Dan Ryan.

I would avoid 94 through the city just in case.

74 to 39 for us in Avon,In. Heck I used to take 53 before 39 was done. Not a big fan of driving through Chi town.

I live in NW Indiana and yesterday I drove up to Waukasha. I used 294 up and back. If you have an Ipass you just drive thru the tolls. No need to stop.

There was construction around the Kenosha area for about 5 miles.

airmorse: "I live in NW Indiana and yesterday I drove up to Waukasha. I used 294 up and back. If you have an Ipass you just drive thru the tolls. No need to stop.


There was construction around the Kenosha area for about 5 miles."

Yes an I -pass is a must have and works in several states including Ohio, Penn, NY and Illinois. Not only do you travel unencumbered, it is substantially cheaper. You can purchase the transponder and take care of business at specially designated rest stops during normal business hours.

I remember 294 before I-pass and it was incredibly infuriating. Huge backups and a tollgate ever 10 miles or so. It was terrible.......now it's a breeze for the most part.

QueticoMike: "I go 74 to 39 every time now, so much easier and stress free. I'll never go through Chi-Town again while traveling to Quetico. Love the city, just don't want to drive through it again unless I have to......"

Leaving from Indy, I take 74 to 39 every time. At most, it is 20 minutes longer.

mastertangler:


I remember 294 before I-pass and it was incredibly infuriating. Huge backups and a tollgate ever 10 miles or so. It was terrible.......now it's a breeze for the most part. "

I live an hour northwest of Chicago. I was on 294 this Friday in order to connect to 57 South. The amount of semi truck traffic was stressful to me. I would recommend to anyone to avoid 294. I rerouted my return trip to avoid 294.

Also agree that the frequency of tolls on 294 seems to be higher than the frequency of tolls on 90.

I'm on the West side of Indy (Brownsburg) and have always taken 74/39 route to avoid Chicago, but if hit you hit Chicago late and night 80/294/90 should be faster by about 30-45 minutes. Weird stuff always happens in Chicago though so I normally don't gamble on it.

Miholic: "I'm on the West side of Indy (Brownsburg)"

Me too!